Ubisoft has revealed that a remake of Splinter Cell: Blacklist, which never received a sequel following its release in 2013. So far there have been seven main Splinter Cell games, beginning in 2002 with Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell which was developed by Ubisoft Montreal and is considered by many as one of the best video games ever made.
The Splinter Cell series has had a focus on stealth-shooter action, allowing players to make use of night-vision goggles, silenced weapons, knives, and special takedown moves to take out enemies and complete missions. Some of the game's defining mechanics were the light bar, which encouraged players to use shadows to their advantage, and the ability to interrogate enemies or use them as a human shield. Splinter Cell's protagonist is Sam Fisher, who was voiced by Michael Ironside in every Splinter Cell game bar one. Fisher has also appeared in other Tom Clancy games like Rainbow Six: Seige and Ghost Recon: Breakpoint.
The Splinter Cell series was an iconic staple in the early 2000s and unfortunately fell away entirely after 2013. There have been other Tom Clancy game series that have continued, however, such as Ghost Recon, The Division, and the very popular Rainbow Six games. Splinter Cell's legacy though meant that fans were always hopeful of a return, and the new announcement brings with it plenty of anticipation. The return of Splinter Cell might not fix Ubisoft's Tom Clancy problem, but a well-executed stealth-shooter game has every chance of being well received by fans and can fill a gap in the gaming space.
The Splinter Cell Remake Won't Be Open World
Splinter Cell's level design and gameplay are what made it so fun to play at the time, and it needs to recreate that formula if it wants to succeed again. Many of the recent Tom Clancy games, including the recent The Division and Ghost Recon titles, have featured open world environments. These series have not had the same success in contrast to Splinter Cell, and with there being a large number of open world games releasing and in development, the game would be up against a lot more competition.
Fortunately, in the announcement on Ubisoft's website, it is confirmed that Splinter Cell won't be open world. The game wouldn't work in an open world environment, the mechanic of using light and dark would be much harder to do and would take out a lot of the tension the previous games conjured up. The excitement that came from being air-dropped into a skyscraper or a Russian base, then having to work through tight corridors and hide in doorways, couldn't be recreated in an open world setting.
Ubisoft Knows How To Make Stealthy Games
Ubisoft mastered the stealth shooter genre with the original Splinter Cells, but the hiatus of the series didn't stop it from creating more great stealth games. The Assassins Creed series began in 2007 and had an emphasis on stealth combat, this time in a historical setting. Even as the series expanded and the games became larger, like the most recent entry, AC Valhalla, stealth has remained a key element in the games and remains one of the reasons for its success.
Now, rumors from an industry insider suggest that Splinter Cell may be Assassins Creed but stealthier, which is a very promising sign for the game's future. Stealth-focused games give players a constant challenge, not just to complete a mission, but there is an extra satisfaction that can be gained by completing missions without alerting any enemies. Ubisoft has consistently created this type of experience over the years, and if they remain focused on recreating it in the new Splinter Cell then it can quickly become one of the best games in a genre with little competition.
New Splinter Cell Is Importantly A Remake, Not A Remaster
The distinction between a remaster and a remake is important, and the new Splinter Cell will fall into the former bracket. There are good examples of franchises finding success with remakes, the most notable being the Resident Evil 2 and 3 remakes. These two games brought back the same fear-inducing gameplay of the originals while also bringing new mechanics that brought them into the modern era. The same thing is possible with the remake of Splinter Cell, as purely remastering the game wouldn't capture a lot of attention because the mechanics of the game would probably feel dated.
The new Splinter Cell will be built on the Snowdrop engine, which was used to make the Division games in 2016 and 2019. This tried and tested engine will allow the developers to make the AI in Splinter Cell more responsive and intelligent, and will also open the door for more advanced gadgets, movement techniques, and interactions between light and dark which the series has relied on. With the power of the next-gen consoles available as well, Splinter Cell's lighting could be the best gamers have ever seen in a game. Ubisoft has also discussed how the game needs to stay true to its roots, and have coined the phrase "Respect the goggles" (referring to the signature night-vision goggles Fisher wears) as a reminder to keep faithful to the game's origins.
The Splinter Cell series disappeared suddenly after a very good run of producing quality stealth-based shooters that evolved with each entry while staying true to its core mechanics. With the huge developments in gaming hardware and software, now is an excellent time for Ubisoft to bring back the series and fill the gap in the market with a remake of one of the best stealth-shooters ever made. The early signs are promising, and with no open world and a group of developers that are experienced with stealth-based games, the Splinter Cell remake should hopefully live up to the original.